Mental Health Connection FAQs

Why is there a Mental Health Connection?

Is Mental Health Connection a Service Provider?

Is Mental Health Connection a fundraising organization?

What does Mental Health Connection do?

What should I expect from the mental health care system in Tarrant County?

Why does Mental Health Connection sponsor the anti-stigma campaign,
"Open Minds Open Doors?"

What is Community Solutions?

What is wraparound?

Why is the Fort Worth Independent School District involved in Mental Health Connection?

How do I join Mental Health Connection?

How do I become a sponsor of Mental Health Connection?

Q: Why is there a Mental Health Connection?
A: Mental Health Connection exists to improve the mental health care system in Tarrant County, resulting in “No Wrong Door to the Right Mental Health Resources.” The organization wants to ensure that no individuals fall through the cracks of the system because they cannot find the help they need. Instead, Mental Health Connection serves as an umbrella organization, helping all area mental health care and social service agencies find help for anyone who comes through their doors – even if they are not the right agency for each individual.

Mental Health Connection also works to help area agencies provide seamless continuity of care. Many individuals with mental health problems are involved with more than one agency. For example, a child may be working with Child Protective Services, MHMR Tarrant County and the Juvenile Justice System in addition to receiving specific services from other providers in the community. Mental Health Connection brings these agencies together so they can communicate with each other on behalf of the patient.

Over time, Mental Health Connection has tackled a number of issues in the provision of mental health care including insurance coverage, stigma, legislation, research and availability of care.

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Q: Is Mental Health Connection a service provider?
A: No, Mental Health Connection (MHC) is not a direct service provider. Rather, the organization provides an umbrella under which Tarrant County mental health care providers can work jointly to address mental health service needs in Tarrant County.

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Q: Is Mental Health Connection a fundraising organization?
A: No. While Mental Health Connection works with various agencies to seek grants, it does not function as a fundraising organization. Its operational expenses are covered primarily by membership dues paid by the various agencies who are committed to improving the mental health care system in Tarrant County.

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Q: What does Mental Health Connection do?
A: To achieve its vision, Mental Health Connection serves as an umbrella organization dedicated to bringing together the various mental health care agencies in the community. Operating as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, it provides opportunities for these agencies to share information, while implementing programs that benefit the entire mental health care community. Since its formation, Mental Health Connection has served as an advocate, helping to re-open 16 adolescent psychiatric beds at John Peter Smith Hospital. It also has sponsored a mental illness anti-stigma public education campaign and educated providers and their staff members about the “No Wrong Door” philosophy. Additionally, Mental Health Connection brought together the faith-based community to address mental health issues and sponsored nationally renowned speakers and events to educate members of the community. Mental Health Connection currently is developing a shared database among its members so they can provide patients and their caregivers with seamless continuity of care from one agency to another. The organization is governed by a board made up of its members. Its executive committee is composed of the officers, task force and committee chairs and representatives from major stakeholders.

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Q: What should I expect from the mental health care system in Tarrant County as a patient, caregiver or interested party?
A: Based on the Mental Health Connection’s Standards for Delivery of High-Quality Mental Health Services, those receiving services should expect:

To have individual and family strengths identified and recognized

To have a treatment program that has clearly identified goals and outcomes that are measured and reported

To have the entire family involved in treatment that promotes keeping that family together

To be treated in a manner that respects each individual’s and family’s cultural values and traditions

To be safe while undergoing treatment

To be a full partner in the development and implementation of the service plan

To have a treatment program focused on overcoming mental health problems and improving lifestyles, not merely on maintenance of existing functioning

To be guided to the right services, no matter which mental health care agency is accessed

To be treated in a timely manner

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Q: Why does Mental Health Connection sponsor the anti-stigma campaign, “Open Minds Open Doors?”
A: Mental Health Connection will need support from the community as it continues to build a seamless system of mental health care. However, the organization realizes it is important to overcome the stigma of mental illness before the community will provide this needed support. In addition, Mental Health Connection wants all individuals with a mental illness or severe emotional disturbance to be treated with respect and dignity. Neither goal is possible until members of the community learn that mental illness is just like physical illness and not a mark of bad character, bad parenting, laziness or lack of willpower.

Q: What is Community Solutions?
A: Community Solutions is a six-year $9.5 million cooperative agreement with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The City of Fort Worth Public Health Department serves as the lead agency, partnering with the Fort Worth Independent School District and Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County. Community Solutions’ goal is to create an accessible, culturally competent and seamless child- and family-driven system of care for families impacted by severe emotional disturbance in Fort Worth. During its six-year timeframe, Community Solutions is providing “wraparound” services to 455 children, most of whom are referred by the Fort Worth ISD. Results are monitored to determine the success of wraparound services. However, Community Solutions is not just a service delivery program. In addition to spearheading the wraparound research project, it has funded and taken a leadership role in such areas as a social marketing campaign designed to combat the stigma of mental illness and a public attitude survey on mental illness. Community Solutions also has funded local appearances of renowned experts on mental health.

Q: What is wraparound?
A: Wraparound is a non-traditional process for treating young people with severe emotional disturbances. Important people in a young person’s life “wrap around” him or her, forming a team to help meet specific goals. Typically, a facilitator meets with the family, including the troubled youth, and together they determine their goals. Then the wraparound team comes together and thinks “outside the box” to meet those goals in ways that are based on the young person’s strengths, driven by the family and sensitive to the family’s culture. Wraparound teams may include mental health care providers as well as friends, relatives, neighbors, teachers, church members and others who can help achieve the goals.

Q: Why is the Fort Worth Independent School District involved in Mental Health Connection?
A: FWISD recognizes severe emotional disturbances present barriers to learning. By becoming involved with the Family Resource Centers and as a referral source to Community Solutions, FWISD removes those barriers while promoting healthy families who may become more engaged in their children’s education. FWISD’ s participation in the Mental Health Connection collaborative provides an atmosphere for competent care that addresses the unique needs of individual children and their families.

Q: How do I join Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County?
A: Membership is open to any individual or organization interested in promoting Mental Health Connection’s stated mission and vision. There are three levels of membership:

Sponsors, contributing $20,000 annually
Organizational members, contributing from $150 to $5,000 annually, depending on each organization’s operating budget
Individual members, contributing a minimum of $30 annually

If you are interested in becoming an organizational or individual member, please fill out a membership application.

Q: How do I become a sponsor of Mental Health Connection?
A: To become a sponsor, contact Patsy Thomas at 817-927-5200.